UPDATE, TUESDAY 3:25 p.m.: From the Department of Fish and Wildlife:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued an order reopening fishing in Big Lagoon near Trinidad. A fishery closure had been issued for the area yesterday after an incident involving an overturned tanker truck Saturday afternoon.  

The order to reopen the area for fishing and shellfish harvesting comes following consultation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which has determined there is no likely threat to public health. OEHHA is the science arm of the California Environmental Protection Agency and advises CDFW on fish safety during an oil spill.

CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) responded to the incident Saturday, as did Caltrans and contracted oil spill cleanup crews. But heavy rains that followed caused a failure of initial response dikes in the area, resulting in diesel sheen in Big Lagoon. 

Clean up operations and investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Oiled Wildlife Care Network has activated a recovery team. Anyone seeing oiled wildlife should not approach it and report it to 1-877-UCD-OWCN.

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Caltrans hazmat crew place ‘containment boom’ along Big Lagoon in attempt to stop the spread of spilled diesel fuel. Photo: Caltrans.

PREVIOUSLY

• Tanker Truck Carrying 4,000 Gallons of Diesel Fuel Overturned on U.S. Highway 101, Fire Crews Mop Up 800 Gallons of Spilled Fuel

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From the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) closed fishing in Big Lagoon near Trinidad following an incident involving an overturned tanker truck near Trinidad Saturday afternoon. The responsible party has estimated that 800 gallons of diesel was released.  

The closure is to take effect immediately and will be lifted once the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) determines there is no threat to public health. OEHHA is the science arm of the California Environmental Protection Agency and advises CDFW on fish safety during an oil spill.

CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) responded to the incident Saturday, as did Caltrans and contracted oil spill cleanup crews. But heavy rains that followed caused a failure of initial response dikes in the area, resulting in diesel sheen in Big Lagoon.

Clean up operations and investigation into the incident is ongoing. Two Ruddy ducks were observed oiled and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network has activated a recovery team. Anyone seeing oiled wildlife should not approach it and report it to 1-877-UCD-OWCN.